GAMBIA VOTE FIRST EVER MAYORESS SINCE INDEPENDENCE

In 2016, Gambians have seen their first female presidential candidate Isatou Touray who later withdrew to support a coalition led by President Adama Barrow.

Rohey Malick Lowe, the mayoress elect for Banjul

The Gambia has voted in first ever mayoress in the country in the first regional government elections since Yaya Jammeh left power in 2016.

Rohey Malick Lowe, candidate for the United Democratic Party, the main party in the coalition government, has been declared mayoress elect of Banjul on Sunday night.

She won the Banjul mayoral seat by a margin of 544 votes, ahead of the incumbent Abdoulie Bah, who won in 2013 as an independent candidate.

The United Democratic Party, the party from which President Barrow resigned to lead an independent coalition that dethroned former dictator Yahya Jammeh, has won seven of the eight regional government seats, Independent Electoral Commission has confirmed.

The UDP leader, Ousainou Darboe, said the election of the mayoress “is history making event for the country and for our party.

“We believe that women should be given more opportunities. Women must not be reduced to king makers. They should be elected to positions of responsibility where they can take decision…,” Darboe said.

The importance of Rohey’s election is a political milestone whose importance didn’t escape her party leader. “I am very proud that a very important history in the life political of The Gambia is associated with our party…,” he said.

The UDP has also won the majority of seats in both the country’s past National Assembly and councilor elections.

Meanwhile, Darboe said his party has always been dominant in Gambian politics. He said past elections under former ruler Yahya Jammeh were stolen.

“…In the past, our elections were stolen. That is why we have never formed the government but we have always been dominant…That is why APRC could not stand us…,” Darboe said.

He added that their goal is to form the Government by 2021 when Gambians are expected to elect a new president.

“There has not been any defeated person… If anything it is democracy that won… Each of the contestants had a good aspiration but one person has been selected to do the job,” Darboe added.